Prairie Sunrise Is A Gift

Finding a treasure can make you want to share it. That would be this book. Prairie Sunrise tells the story of life on a Montana ranch through the eyes of six-year-old Zora Rose. Zora lives on a ranch in Montana with her family, Her story is described so simply and beautifully, it either reminds you of your experiences or makes you want to move to the ranch and join her.

Zora’s mother, Sierra Dawn, wrote this book, and filled it with pictures of their ranch and the kids living there. Zora tells us what she’s learning about livestock handling, wildlife and grazing. She explains how they move the cows, riding point, flank, and drag. “There are lots of rules to remember about herding cows. Everyone has had to learn them since Great Great Grandad McKee first had cows here. Don’t turn your back to the herd. Don’t ride between someone else and the herd. Don’t make a cow being a good girl trot. Don’t go so fast that you pass a calf; he will get scared and run away. I try to remember all the rules, but sometimes I forget some.”

Here are some excerpts from the book for you to enjoy. And if you’d like a copy of your own, it’s available under Kathy and Rachel’s Reads at the On Pasture bookstore. You might also see some other great reads by On Pasture authors there. When you buy books at the On Pasture bookstore, you get all the benefits and pricing of Amazon, and a portion of the proceeds support On Pasture. Happy reading!

About the author

Rachel’s interest in sustainable agriculture and grazing has deep roots in the soil. She’s been following that passion around the world, working on an ancient Nabatean farm in the Negev, and with farmers in West Africa’s Niger. After returning to the US, Rachel received her M.S. and Ph.D. in agronomy and soil science from the University of Maryland. For her doctoral research, Rachel spent 3 years working with Maryland dairy farmers using management intensive grazing. She then began her work with grass farmers, a source of joy and a journey of discovery.